High hopes for a family arrival

FIRST DRIVE HYUNDAI i40:You have to admire Korean ambition. In less than a decade Hyundai has leapt from the budget end of the market firmly into the mainstream. Now it's making a pitch for the most competitive sector in the European market, the family car and fleet market.

Having already established itself as a top five global car manufacturer when sister brand Kia is taken into account, not having a family car was an omission that simply couldn’t continue. And not content with also-ran status, the Koreans have set out a bold goal: sixth in the family car market in Europe by 2012.

As the i40’s product manager Franklin Guiner told us, “if you want to be a serious top five global car brand, then you have to be in the family car segment in a serious way,” he explained.

To fully appreciate the task at hand, just consider the choice buyers already have in this category. Look at this week’s road test and you see the challenges. To get a top six position means you need to not only enter the race, but see off some well-established rivals.

The new i40 has a major challenge on its hands, but no one with even a passing knowledge of the Hyundai story, or Korean resolve, will question whether it can be achieved. When Hyundai first promised to be a top five global player, many guffawed. When they suggested that they could become a mainstream player, some tittered. When they say the i40 is aiming to become the sixth best selling family car in Europe, most of us now wonder which of the current crop of models is going to lose out as a result.

So can this car live up to the challenge? We reported in the past about its styling, but suffice to say the estate – which goes on sale first, to be followed in September by the saloon – boasts a contemporary, Mondeo-like look. It’s not as striking as the Opel Insignia, but it does lean towards more sporty connotations than the Passat. It’s a handsome car that hides its roomy interior well.

But it’s he interior that wins the most plaudits, a viable rival for any of its competitors, including the Peugeot 508 in the road test this week. From its smart binnacle graphics to its touchscreen audio system, the i40 delivers a level of comfort and features that will match its rivals. It also features a host of new technology that Hyundai claims will offer it a premium sheen, though in reality much of this gadgetry is available on a range of rivals already.

The engine range is dominated by the 1.7-litre four-cylinder diesel, putting out either 115bhp or 135bhp. A 160bhp version is due later.

Petrol options are either a 1.6-litre 135bhp or 2.0-litre 177bhp, but neither has been confirmed for an Irish market so dominated by diesel these days.

Having tested both a 1.7-litre 135bhp diesel and 2-litre petrol, the good news for Ireland is that the diesel is by far the better engine. It’s well-suited to the car with plenty of torque on supply and makes the petrol seem underpowered. It’s also economical when fitted with Hyundai’s “Blue Drive” start/stop technology; resulting in emissions of 119g/km for the 135bhp, while the lower-powered 115bhp is just 113g/km.

In terms of driving dynamics, the firm might not have a long legacy of engineering cars for this segment, but clearly they’ve been well advised, for ride and handling offer a nice balance between sporting stiffness and comfort.

Perhaps the most impressive feat is a nicely weighted steering, something that many of its rivals have still not mastered.

It may seem strange to launch with an estate, but this format represents 54 per cent of European family car sales and 70 per cent of fleet sales.

We’ll have to wait a few weeks before prices are confirmed, but expect them to be right in the mix, with €25,000 getting you a well-equipped entry model.

Hyundai has identified the Toyota Avensis as its main rival, and Guinier says they will “attack the Avensis” and woo its customer base.

In reality that’s more of a European aspiration, where the European models rulle the roost. In Ireland, Hyundai is not yet planning to topple the Avensis from its top-selling spot, and is predicting 1,000 i40s in a full year of sales. Toyota might not be overly concerned right now, but nobody takes the Koreans for granted in the car industry these days.

FACTFILE

Engine1.7-litre four-cylinder diesel with either 115bhp or 136bhp (160bhp version later)

TransmissionSix-speed manual/six-speed dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive

Emissions113g/km (or 119g/km for 136bhp version) with Blue Drive

L/100km(mpg) 4.3 (65.6) for 115bhp – 4.5 (62.7) for 136bhp

0-100km/h12.9 – 10.6 secs

On saleFive-door estate in summer (saloon arrives in September)

PriceExpect it to start at €25,000